PTP moves record 3.026 mln TEUs in Jan-Sept 2004

The Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) recorded its highest ever nine-month total throughput when it handled 3,026,826 TEUs during the first three quarters of 2004, an increase of 20 percent or 2,518,029 TEUs from the same period last year.

The fastest expanding port in the region said its total throughput handled during the third quarter this year was 1,015,863 TEUs compared with 913,370 TEUs in the same three-month period last year. Total local cargo handled by the port also showed a 16 percent increase to 122,654 TEUs in the first nine months this year against 105,581 TEUs for the same period last year.

"The rise in volumes is attributed to the continuing global economic upturn, the increasing market share of local cargo and the addition of new services calling at the PTP," it said in a statement yesterday.

"Third quarter 2004, also saw the completion of berths seven and eight as part of the Phase Two expansion programme. The two berths have added up to 1.5 million TEUs in handling capacity giving the port annual capacity in excess of six million TEUs."

Transhipment volumes recorded an even higher increase of over 20 percent with 2,904,171 TEUs handled in the first three months of 2004 from 2,412,447 TEUs in the same period last year, it said.

The PTP said total vessel calls increased by 49 to 2,378 for the first nine months of 2004 compared to 2,329 calls in the same period in 2003. The port, which is strategically located at the southwest shoulder of Johor, offers eight berths of 360 meters each totaling 2.88 km in length backed by one of the largest container yards in the region with a storage capacity of 110,000 TEUs.